Parliament Question: India–US Free Trade Agreement

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2679 ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025 INDIA-US FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

2679. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to

state:

(a) whether the Government is engaged in negotiations with the United States regarding a proposed Indo-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and if so, the details thereof along with the present status of such discussions;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment on the potential negative impact of the proposed FTA on lndia's agricultural sector, particularly on small and marginal farmers, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether concerns have been raised by the State Governments and stakeholders about the influx of subsidized agricultural imports and its effect on local markets and farmer incomes, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps the Government is taking to ensure that agricultural interests of the States are protected during such international trade negotiations; and

(e) whether the Government will commit to excluding sensitive agricultural commodities from tariff reductions or market access under any proposed agreement and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c) Government of India is actively involved in the discussions on the India-USA Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the Government of the United States with the aim to expand trade and investment and deepening the India-US trade relationship to promote growth that ensures fairness, national security and job creation. India US bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations were launched in March 2025. Five rounds of negotiations have been held, the last being from July 14-18th, 2025 at Washington, USA.

(d) to (e) To safeguard the interests of farmers and the domestic industry, international trade negotiations allow for the inclusion of sensitive, negative, or exclusion lists—categories of goods on which limited or no tariff concessions are granted. In addition, in case of surge in imports and injury to the domestic industry, a country is allowed to take recourse to trade remedial measures such as anti-dumping and safeguards on imports within the periods as mutually agreed to by the parties under FTAs.

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